Who Will Replace You?

I pastored a military church for 11 years and witnessed regular leadership turnover like I had never seen. While the average church may have an annual attrition rate of 10%, this church saw roughly 25% of its members leave each year — mostly by transfer to other military installations.  That high turnover prompted us toContinue reading “Who Will Replace You?”

Leaders Need Anchors

My first real job growing up — apart from farmwork —was as a dock worker at a marina on Lake Barkley in western Kentucky. The job responsibilities included pumping gas for boats, dipping minnows for fishermen, taking out garbage and preparing fishing and sailboats for rental customers.  When it came to preparing the rental boats,Continue reading “Leaders Need Anchors”

Winning Against Pornography

To say that pornography use is a “sin epidemic” in our nation, and in the Christian community, may be an understatement.  The Barna Group’s 2024 survey, “Beyond the Porn Phenomenon,” highlights the prevalence of pornography use among practicing Christians. It reveals that the problem of pornography among professing Christians who attend church regularly is probablyContinue reading “Winning Against Pornography”

Kentucky’s Best Option for Foster Care and Adoption

Sunrise Children’s Services, formerly known as Kentucky Baptist Homes for Children, has been serving the same constituency since 1869 — children who need someone to step in the gap and provide food, shelter and love for them.  Since that time, Sunrise has cared for thousands of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children and today ministers to approximatelyContinue reading “Kentucky’s Best Option for Foster Care and Adoption”

Advice for Non-Profit Ministry Leaders

I was recently asked to bring a greeting to some of Kentucky’s finest ministry leaders. These are men and women who have started or currently lead nonprofits serving crucial needs in their communities here in Kentucky.  They labor diligently and seek to lead faithfully to meet needs and share Christ. They do good work, manageContinue reading “Advice for Non-Profit Ministry Leaders”

Invite a Young Man to Preach

We live among a gold mine of young preachers in Kentucky.   Kentucky Baptists have access to three separate institutions where hundreds of young men are being trained for ministry leadership and many of them are being trained to preach.  Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville and Boyce College and The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryContinue reading “Invite a Young Man to Preach”

Consistently Pro-Life

I join many Kentucky Baptists in praising God for faithful men and women who have dedicated much of their lives in the defense of the unborn. Because of God’s blessings on their efforts, we live in a state where medical elective abortion is banned. Because of the hard work and prayers of many, the EMWContinue reading “Consistently Pro-Life”

Why Do We Plant Churches Together?

I recently attended the 10th anniversary of a Kentucky Baptist Church near northern Kentucky. The church started out of a burden from the pastor to reach people who were not being reached with the gospel. Like most church planters, his desire was not about a musical or methodological preference but a concern for the unchurched.Continue reading “Why Do We Plant Churches Together?”

Caring for Your Pastor

Good pastors are hard to find. Some churches that are without a pastor have spent two years or longer in a search for their next one. Currently there are approximately 280 Kentucky Baptist churches searching for their next senior leader.  But what if you already have a good pastor? What are you doing to helpContinue reading “Caring for Your Pastor”

Great Days at Clear Creek

By all measurable accounts, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College — nestled in the foothills of Appalachia — is doing great. A recent report shows enrollment at Clear Creek is up by more than 80 students since last semester.   But not only is the school growing numerically; it is also growing spiritually. Over the pastContinue reading “Great Days at Clear Creek”